Excellence Awards for USQ teachers

Some of USQ's finest teachers have been recognised for their innovation and dedication to their profession by winning USQ Awards for Teaching Excellence.

The Awards are given to USQ academic staff members who have extensive teaching careers and consistently demonstrate excellence in teaching.

Dr Jerry Maroulis, Education Senior Lecturer and Deputy Director of the Australian Centre for Sustainable Catchments (ACSC) won an individual Award, while a group led by Learning and Teaching Enhancement Senior Lecturer Linda Galligan won the team honour.

Lecturing at the University since 1998, Dr Maroulis is a first time winner of the Award and was recognised for his sustained commitment to a student-centred learning philosophy.

'It is so important in this role as a teacher to listen to the needs of the students and that is something which I base a lot of my teaching on,' he said.

'I also try to model best practice and always make sure I am communicating with my students because they are less likely to engage with you if you are not interacting with them.'

Meanwhile, Mrs Galligan's team were awarded a Teaching Excellence honour for a program that they developed, which has been assisting international students for close to twenty years.

'Lyndal Wood, Carmel Barrett, Ann Dashwood, Barbara Harmes and I designed an international preparatory program, which prepares international students for University,' Mrs Galligan said.

'What we try to do is bring these international students up to the prerequisites that are required by the University so that they are at the same level as other international students.

'Since 1988, we have had over 1500 students pass through the program.'

Both Dr Maroulis and Mrs Galligan now plan on applying for prestigious Carrick Awards for Australian University Teaching.

'I plan on applying for a Carrick Award to help show that there is exemplary teaching that is nationally significant taking place here at USQ,' Dr Maroulis said.

'It is a way that we can get some higher recognition for the program,' Mrs Galligan added.

Media Contact: Josh Ada, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 1628